Fountain-comb.



PATBNTED JULY 28, i903.`

No. 734,704. y J. R. HARRISON.

FOUNTAIN 00MB. APPLICATION FILED DEO. 3, 1902.

N0 MODEL.

fig 4 @Hatha-zoom am UNITED STATES atented duly 2S,

PATENT OFFICE.

JULIAN R. HARRISON, OF BARNWELL, SOUTH CAROLINA, ASSIGNOR TO FOUNTAIN COMB dt NOVELTY COMPANY, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A

CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

IFouNTAtN-OOMB.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 734,704, dated .Iury as, 190e. Y

Application tiled December 3, 1902. Serial No. 133.692. (No model.)

To` ctZZ whom t may concern.-

Beit known that I, JULIAN R. HARRISON, a citizen of the United States, residingin Barn well, iu the county of Barnwell and State of South Carolina, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Fountain-Combs, of which the following is such a full, clear, and exact description as will enable any one skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use` the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming part of thisspeciticationl My invention relates to what is known as a fountain-comb, and in which the teeth are made hollow or tubular and are in communication with asuitable reservoir in the body of the comb and are each provided with.

a valve which is opened when the end of the tooth is pressed in contact with the scalp for the purpose fof treating the scalp with tiuid preparation. The principal objects of the present invention are to provide a fountaincomb of this class inwhich the valve of'each tooth is rendered quite sensitive and easy of Operation and the tension on whrich may be readily adjusted and to guard against leakage of the liquid from the comb when the same is not in use. l

With these and other objects in view my invention consists in the various novel and peculiar arrangements and combinations of4 the several `parts of the device, all as herein` after fully described and then pointed out in the claims. i

I haveillustrated types of my inventionin the accompanying drawings, whereini Figure lis a perspective view of a fountain-comb embodying myimprovements. Fig. 2 is an enlarged central vertical sectional view of a portion of the fountain-comb shown in Fig. l. Fig. 3 is an enlarged section on a i -central verticalplane through thecomb,

showing a'modifled form of the invention. Fig. 4 is a vertical central section of a modilied formof the comb; Fig. 5 is a similar view of another modification.

i Referring to the drawings, in which like numbers of reference designate like parts throughout, lis the body of the comb, which is cylindrical and formed with a liquid-tight chamber .2, which constitutes the reservoir for holding the liquid with which the comb is charged. From one end of the body of the comb extends in line therewith a handle 3, which is flattened in a vertical direction-that is, in the plane in which the teeth of the comb are contained. The other end of the combbody is open and is provided with a removable plug 4, which tits into the end of the reservoir and forms a rliquid-tight joint therewith. The joint between the plug-4. and the mouth 5 of the reservoir is shown as formed without screw-threads, it being a smooth tapering joint, and the reservoir is charged with liquid by removing the cap 4. when desired.

Upon the under side of the comb-body 1 is arranged a row of hollow or tubular teeth 6, which are in direct` communication with the interior of the reservoir and are open at their lower. ends or points in order that at a certain time the liquid contents of the reservoir may pass therefrom through the tooth and out otl the point thereof. I refer to these teeth as being tubular, and by that I mean that they are pipe-like structures, which may assume any shape in crosssection, either interiorly or exteriorly, and more or less of `these teeth are used, depending upon the size of the comb. The bore of the tooth of the comb is practically unobstructed in its cornmunication with the reservoir, and upon its llowerend upon the interior there is formed a conically-shaped valve-seat '7, with which cooperates a valve 8, conicallyshaped. This conical -valve 8 has extending from its apex l or lower end an outer valve-stem 9, which extends through the mouth 10 at the end of the tooth and projects out beyond the same, while the upper end of the valve carries an inner stem 1l, which is made sufficiently long to reach into the reservoir 2 in order that it may have the additional function ofA leading the liquid from the reservoir down through the interior of the tooth to the lower-endthereof, from where it is discharged. The upper part of the valve 8 is formed with a cylindrical spiralspring 13, which surrounds the upper -part 12, around which iits the lower end of a valve-stem 11 and has its upper end resting against a fixed part in order to keep the valve on its seat with spring-pressure.

In the'construotion shown in Fig. 2 the tubular or hollow teeth 6 are each made integral with the body 1 of the comb for the purpose of simplifying the construction and avoiding a joint between each tooth and the comlrbody. In this construction the Lipper valve-stem 11 extends through the reservoir to a point in the opposite wall thereof, where there is formed a perforation 14, into which fits an adjustable cap 15, having the exterior thereof tapering downwardly, so as to be titted tightly within the openingr 14. This cap Y is hollowed out at 16 on its inner end, so

as to receive the upper end of the spring therein, and it has in the bottom of the hol- -low a smaller recess 17, into which the head of the upper valve-stem l1 loosely projects and by which it is guided. The tension on the spring 13 may be varied by vertical adjustment of the cap 15 in its opening in the side of the reservoir, the tension being greater the vfarther the cap is forced down in its seat. In Fig. 2 the valve of the tooth at the extreme left hand is shown as closed, and this is its normal position in order that the Huid 18 may not escape from the tooth. The tooth next adjacent is shown with its valve pressed inwardly and open, which is the position it assumes when the comb is pressed against the scalp andthe outervalve-stem 9 is pushed withinthetooth. Thesetwo valvesareshown in these positions in order to illustrate each position of the same, it being understood that in the use of the comb the valve of each tooth is opened by the outer stein thereof being pressed down against the scalp, and this may occur with all of the teeth simultaneously or not, depending, of course, which of the teeth come in contact with the scalp. In this construction of the invention the hollow teeth 6 and the comb-body 1 being integral they may be cast or molded at one operation, likewise the conical seats 14 fol` the adjustable plugs 15.' After thus molding these parts the conical valve-seat 7 in the respective teeth may be drilled and made true by inserting a drill through the opening 14 in the side of the body and down into the tooth opposite such opening. After this is done the valve, with its spring, is set in place with the lower stem 9 extending down through the end of the tooth and the plug 15 being putin place over the end of the upper stem 11 and forced down in its seat.

In the construction shown in Fig. 3 the tooth 6 is set through an opening 19 in the side of the reservoir and is formed with an inner extension 20, which extends across the reservoir through an opening 2l therein at a point opposite the opening 19 and projects beyond the outer side of the reservoir, Where it is formed with an external screw-thread 22, upon which fits an internal screw-threaded cap 23. The tooth 6 is formed 'with an external annular flange 24, which rests against the outer side of the reservoir around the opening .19, and when the cap 23 is screwed upon the upper end of the extension 24 against the exterior of the body 1 it brings the cap 23 down against the exterior of the body 1, making a liquid-tight joint at both of these points. In order, however, to prevent leakage at these points, a soft washer may beinterposed at both places. In this form the valve is the same as described in reference to Fig. l, and the upper valve-stem 11 is guided iu an opening 25, formed in a crosspicce 26, arranged in the upper end of the extension 20, and theupper end of the spring 13 bears against this cross-piece 26, which is fitted snugly Within the exterior of the tubular extension 20, so that it may be forced up or down therein in order to vary the tension on the spring.V At suitable points in the sides of the extension 20 are perforations 27, through which the liquid 18 may pass from the reservoir down into the bore of the tooth 6. In this form of the constructionthe in-v terior of the tooth 6 is practically in direct communication with the interior of the reservoir.

In the construction shown in Fig. 4 one of the teeth 6 has its inner end threaded at 28 and screwed into a threadedopening 29 in the side of the reservoir, and it is formed with an annular flange 30, which rests against the outer surface of the body or barrel 1. The opening 29 is reduced at 31, where it communicates with the reservoir, in order to provide a fixed part against which the spring 13 of the valve may rest at its upper end. The upper stem 11 of the valve projects into the reservoir 2, and the interior of the tooth 6 is in direct communication with the reservoir, as in the other constructions.

In Fig. 4 the tooth at the right-hand side of the figure is shown as being without any screw-,thread and is inserted tightly Within the opening 29, a screw-thread being thus avoided.

The reservoir 2 Vmay be provided with a suit-able air-inlet 32, which in Fig. 4 is shown as of a comparatively smaller size in order. to let the air enter the reservoir above the liquid and assist the discharge of the liquid from the points of the teeth of the comb when. the valves are pressed in. In cases lwhere the air-inlet is dispensed with the discharge of the liquid from the points of the teeth will depend upon capillary action in a manner Well known, and this may be sufficient insome cases for the purposes for which the fountain-comb is used.

It will be noted that in each of the forms of the invention herein shown the bore of the tooth of the comb is normally filled with liquid from the reservoir down to the point where the valve 8 is located, so that as this valve opens the liquid at lonce finds its way to the IOO point of the tooth, and it iows from the same to the point of application, some of the liquid also finding its way down the end of the of the comb through the hair.

stem 9. The oW of liquid from the point of the tooth may be made more or less copious by increasing or diminishing the space between the mouth of the opening at the end of the tooth and the valve-stem 9, which prof `jects through the same, by enlarging or reducing the diameter of either the stem or the interior of the tooth at the end. Of course the number of tubular teeth may be increased as desired, and the cross-sectional area of the tooth may be made as small as practical in order to offer less resistance to the movement In making this article any well-known and suitable material, such as hard rubber, may be used for the bodyand the teeth structures as well as the adjusting-plugs and the cap, while the valve and its stems, likewise the spring above the valve, may be made of a suitable metal( l. A fountain-comb consisting in the combination of a suitable body provided with a chamber serving as areservoir, a set of tubular teeth projecting from said body and hav- `ing their interiors in direct and practicallyunobstructed communication With said reservoir to readily receive the liquid therefrom and having their outer ends open for dis-V charging the liquid therefrom, each of said teeth 6 beingprovided upon its interior near its outer end with avalve-seat 7, a valve 8 closing on said valve-seat whereby substantially the -entire interior vof the tooth is normally lled with liquid fromthe reservoir, said valve being provided with an outer stem 9 which projects through the opening in the end of the tooth and also an inner stem 11 which extends through the bore of the tooth and into the reservoir to lead the liquid therefrom, and a spiral spring 13 surrounding the inner stem of the valve and bearing with one end against the valve 8, and with the other end against a fixed part, the said valve being normally closed on its seat by the spring and adapted to be opened by pressing the outer stem of the valve inwardly into its tooth, substantially as au d, for the purpose setl forth.

2. A fountain-comb consisting in the combination of a suitable body provided with a chamber serving as a reservoir, a set of tubular teeth projecting from said body and in communication with said reservoir and having their outer ends open to discharge the liquid therefrom, each of said teeth being provided upon its interior near its outer end with a valve-seat, a valve provided with an outer stem which projects out of the end of the tooth'and also an inner stem which extends through the bore of the tooth. thence through the reservoir the Wall of which at a point opposite the tooth is provided with a perforation, a removable plug fitting in said perforation and having its inner end formedV With a recess for receiving and guiding the end of the inner stem of the valve, and a spring for normally holding the said valve closed, the said spring engaging thesaid plug, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in the presence of the two subscribing Witnesses.

JULIAN R. HARRISON. Witnesses:

FREDERICK B. CAMPBELL, 'WILLIS FOWLER. 

